Polaris Dawn Mission Set for August 26 to Advance Commercial Space Exploration

Written by Copernical Team Tuesday, 20 August 2024 20:52

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Write a comment

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 20, 2024

The Polaris Program, focused on testing and developing new spaceflight technology, is preparing to launch its first mission, Polaris Dawn, aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket on Monday, August 26, 2024. This mission marks a significant step forward in commercial space exploration. Key objectives include testing a next-generation spacesuit during the first commercial spacewalk, attempting to achieve

Polaris Dawn Mission Set for August 26 to Advance Commercial Space Exploration
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 20, 2024

The Polaris Program, focused on testing and developing new spaceflight technology, is preparing to launch its first mission, Polaris Dawn, aboard SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket on Monday, August 26, 2024. This mission marks a significant step forward in commercial space exploration. Key objectives include testing a next-generation spacesuit during the first commercial spacewalk, attempting to achieve the highest altitude for a human spaceflight since the Apollo missions, and evaluating a new communication system through Starlink.

As part of the mission, there will be an on-orbit reading of a children's book, 'Kisses from Space', written by a crew member. The four astronauts will also use their approximately five days in orbit to conduct nearly 40 important health research experiments while raising funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

"After more than two years of training, we are excited to embark on this mission," said Jared Isaacman, commander of the Polaris Dawn mission.

"We are incredibly thankful for this opportunity and to the thousands of SpaceX engineers who have contributed to this endeavor. We hope the results from our mission will accelerate SpaceX's vision to make life multiplanetary and support St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and its efforts to improve global survival rates for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Throughout our mission, we will aim to inspire humankind to look up and imagine what we can achieve here on Earth and in the worlds beyond our own."

The Polaris Dawn crew consists of:

Jared Isaacman, Mission Commander: Founder and CEO of Shift4, Isaacman served as Mission Commander for Inspiration4, the world's first all-civilian mission to space in 2021, which raised over $250 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. An accomplished aviator from Pennsylvania, he holds several world air records, including two Speed-Around-The-World flights.

Scott "Kidd" Poteet, Mission Pilot: A retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, Poteet served 20 years, including roles as Commander of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, USAF Thunderbird #4 Demonstration Pilot, and Operational Test and Evaluation Pilot. He was also the mission director for Inspiration4. A triathlete from New Hampshire, Poteet has completed 15 Ironman Triathlons, including four Ironman World Championships.

Sarah Gillis, Mission Specialist: A Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX, Gillis oversees the astronaut training program. She began at SpaceX as an intern in 2015 and has worked on human-in-the-loop testing of the Dragon spacecraft. Inspired by her background in music, she developed a curriculum titled 'A Musician's Guide to Reaching for the Stars' in collaboration with El Sistema USA, linking music, creativity, and exploration.

Anna Menon, Mission Specialist and Medical Officer: Also a Lead Space Operations Engineer at SpaceX, Menon manages crew operations and serves in Mission Control as a Mission Director and Crew Communicator. A Houston resident, she is married to NASA astronaut Anil Menon. Her children's book, 'Kisses from Space', inspired by her mission preparation, will be read from space, with proceeds benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

The Polaris Dawn mission aims to push the boundaries of commercial spaceflight with several objectives:

- Reaching the highest Earth orbit ever flown by a Dragon spacecraft, aiming for an altitude of 190 x 1,400 kilometers (870 miles) above Earth - more than three times higher than the International Space Station, and the highest human spaceflight in over 50 years.

- Attempting the first commercial spacewalk at an elliptical orbit of 190 x 700 kilometers (435 miles) above Earth, using newly developed SpaceX EVA spacesuits. The crew, who participated in suit development, will perform tests that will provide critical data for future long-duration missions.

- Testing a laser-based satellite communication system through optical links between the Dragon spacecraft and Starlink satellites, potentially revolutionizing space communication.

- Conducting nearly 40 experiments focusing on advancing knowledge of human health on Earth and in space.

The Polaris Dawn crew has completed over two years of rigorous training, including centrifuge operations, hundreds of hours in Dragon simulations, skydiving, survival training, high-performance aircraft piloting, Zero-G flights, altitude training, classroom instruction, and medical evaluations. Extensive EVA training was also completed, preparing the crew for the challenges of spacewalking.